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[[File:AAPG-WIKI-Write-off.jpg|right|200px|Louisiana State University]]

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'''Zircon Titanium Geothermometry''', or "Ti-in-zircon [[Geothermometry]]" is a technique by which the crystallization temperature of a [[zircon]] crystal can be estimated by the amount of titanium atoms found in the crystal lattice. Zircon is a useful mineral due to its abundance in the Earth's crust, its ability to incorporate various [[radioactive]] and nonradioactive isotopes, its durability, and its resistance to isotopic diffusion.<ref name="Watson Wark Thomas 2006">Watson, E.B.; Wark, D.A.; Thomas, J.B. (3 March 2006). "Crystallization thermometers for zircon and rutile". Contributions to Mineral Petrology 151: 413–433. doi:10.1007/s00410-006-0068-5</ref> In zircon crystals, [[Titanium]] is commonly incorporated, replacing similarly charged [[Zirconium]] and [[Silica]] atoms. This process is relatively unaffected by pressure and highly temperature dependent, with the amount of Ti incorporated rising exponentially with temperature,<ref name="Watson Wark Thomas 2006" /><ref name="Watson and Harrison 2005">Watson, E.B.; Harrison, T.M. (6 May 2005). "Zircon Thermometer Reveals Minimum Melting Conditions on Earliest Earth". Science Magazine 308: 841–843. doi:10.1126/science.1110873</ref> making this an accurate geothermometry method. This method is extremely useful, as it can be combined with radiometric dating techniques that are commonly used with zircon crystals (see [[Uranium-lead dating]]), to correlate quantitative temperature measurements with specific absolute ages.

'''Zircon Titanium Geothermometry''', or "Ti-in-zircon [[Geothermometry]]" is a technique by which the crystallization temperature of a [[zircon]] crystal can be estimated by the amount of titanium atoms found in the crystal lattice. Zircon is a useful mineral due to its abundance in the Earth's crust, its ability to incorporate various [[radioactive]] and nonradioactive isotopes, its durability, and its resistance to isotopic diffusion.<ref name="Watson Wark Thomas 2006">Watson, E.B.; Wark, D.A.; Thomas, J.B. (3 March 2006). "Crystallization thermometers for zircon and rutile". Contributions to Mineral Petrology 151: 413–433. doi:10.1007/s00410-006-0068-5</ref> In zircon crystals, [[Titanium]] is commonly incorporated, replacing similarly charged [[Zirconium]] and [[Silica]] atoms. This process is relatively unaffected by pressure and highly temperature dependent, with the amount of Ti incorporated rising exponentially with temperature,<ref name="Watson Wark Thomas 2006" /><ref name="Watson and Harrison 2005">Watson, E.B.; Harrison, T.M. (6 May 2005). "Zircon Thermometer Reveals Minimum Melting Conditions on Earliest Earth". Science Magazine 308: 841–843. doi:10.1126/science.1110873</ref> making this an accurate geothermometry method. This method is extremely useful, as it can be combined with radiometric dating techniques that are commonly used with zircon crystals (see [[Uranium-lead dating]]), to correlate quantitative temperature measurements with specific absolute ages.